Suction carpet-sweeper.



J. M. SPANGLER.

sUoTIoN CARPET SWBBPER.

APPLICATION PQILED JULY 24, 1911.

Patented Sept. 16

i .l UNITED :STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lJAIMIES M. SPA'NGL'ER, UF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIZ'arNOIl-l T0 THE HOOVER, SUCTION SWEEPER COMPANY," Ofl 'N'EW BERLIN, fOHIO, CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SUCTION CARPET-SWEEPER.

Specification of Letters 'Patent Patentedsept. 1o, 1913.

Application led July 24, 1911. Serial No. 640,260.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatLJAMns M. SraNemm, a-citizen vof the United States, residing at Canton, in the county vof Stark and IState of Ohio, have invented a =new and useful Suction -Carpet-SWeeper, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates-to improvements in devices for brushing and pneumatically i cleaning floors and floor coverings and simr over such surface, 'the suction lcreatingr device and brushing fdevice being preferably mdependent :in operation; and Ato so` construct the brush .and brush operating mech- .anism that .the same will operate with the .least resistance and will not hinder the free and -easy :movement of the 'device over ithe surface to ibe cleaned. These objects, together with other-objects apparent to those 'skilled in ythe ant may be =attained by the construction illustrated in the accompany ling drawings, .although the invention `may beembodied in other forms,ftheconstruction' xillustrated lbeing chosen by way vof example.

In the -drawingsfEigure l ism perspecltive View of :a -suction carpet :sweeper `embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation `of -one of 4the -ends -of ythe brush cylinder, a portion beingbroken laway .to disclosethe internal construction. Fig. '3

is a vertical sectional -view through vthe .b rush cylinder =and 4a fragmentary portion of the -fan casing. Fig. 4 .-is fa horizontal fragmentary view through the brush cylinder and brush, a .portionlof the .view being broken aw'ay.

Throughout the several views similar referencenumerals indicate similar parts.

The Vnumeral -1 vindicates a hollow casing' movablfy supported above the floor upon the drivingvr wheels 2 and caster wheel 3. `Upon .the-,casing l is mounted the :electric motor 4 of well'known design. Within the'casing l 1s a .fan 4.a operatively connected to the motor 4, sald motor and fan being adapted 'to exhaust the air from said casingr l through the exhaust collar 5 preferably formed integrally with the casing` l.

To the casing 1 is pivotally connected the handle'6, a portion of which is broken away in the drawing, said .handle being of the usual form and vadapted to be grasped by the yoperator for the purpose of moving` the sweeper over theiioor or other surface.

The electric conductors 6a lead from the motor 4 to a switch 6b preferably located on the fan casino; and from said switch suitable flexible electric eonduetorsc of convenient lengthconnect .with a source of electric current, such as an electric light fixture, for supplying the necessary current to operate the motor 4.

To'the exhaust collar 5 is connected adust receptacle 7 shown in theldrawings as consist-ing' of a cloth bag supported Vfrom .the

-handle .and adapted to receive through =the collar 5 I(hist andsweepings as :they are exhausted from the casing 1.

At .the forward `portion of the casing l a downward lextension 8 of said casingy convnects said casing with :the hollow brusl'i :cylinder 9, whiohbrush cylinder extends transversely und .is .provided `at its .lower side with .the lonnit-udinalslot 10, `Which.slot extends from .the end .plate .1l atene end of the-cylinder tothe corresponding' end plate at the `other end. .Said plates 1.1 close the Yendsofithe cylinder in such Wayfas to preventthe entrance .of lair into the casing` l except through the slot 10. It will\beunder that when the motor 4 :is .operated yto drive the fan Within .thecasing l and the air is exhausted 4from .the casing l into .the receptacle 7, a forceful Vinrushofkair through the slot 10 is produced carrying with said .air any dust, 'dirt l'or lsmall :objects on the flooror'other surface immediately below 4the slot l() .and .depositing such -dust and sweepings .in the 4receptacle f7. In combination lwith such inrushof air, however :it is very important anddesirable -to combine la light 'brushing of the surface :being cleaned in order to Heesen any yparticles or 'objects which the air alone might .be unable to dislodge. To accomplish such `brushingection a brush comprising .a brush spindle 12 and bristles 13 is arranged within the brush cylinder, the spindle 12 being rotatably mounted upon a fixed shaft 14 extending from one end plate 11 to the other. It will be understood that the bristles 13 are connected to the spindle 12- and as the spindle 12 is caused to rotate said bristles will be carried around upon the inner side ofthe brush cylinder. As the slot 1() is of substantial width and the bristles 13 extend substantially to the wall of the brush cylinder, the bristles will project slightly through the slot 10 as they pass it in rotating.

Each end plate 11 is provided with an axially disposed spindle aperture at 15 and at the outer side of said plate, an off-set bearing portion 16 is preferablyformed integrally with the plate 11 and is provided with an aperture through which the fixed shaft 14: extends, a nut 17 at each end being arranged upon the fixed shaft to hold the same in place. The brush spindle 12 is provided with the thread guard 18 arranged to rotate in the aperture at 15, the spindle 12 being reduced adjacent said thread guard thus causing said guard to form an annular ange connected to the spindle in such way as to producea concave annular surface at 19 adapted to guide anythreads that may be wound upon the spindle 12 away from the aperture at 15. 'Extending beyond the plane of the plate 11 and on the inner side of the portion 16 the spindle 12 is' provided with the small pinion 20, which pinion mesheswith the relatively large pinion 21 iixedly connected to the driving wheel 2 and rotatable therewith upon the bearing screw 22 connected' to they plate 11. The bearing screw 22 is connected to the plate 11 to the rear of the axis of the spindle12 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 and the wheel 2 is provided with an integral, externally knurled, inwardly extending tread iiange '23 adapted to bear upon the floor or other surface to be cleaned. The end plate 11 is provided with a rearwardly projecting portion 24, which' with the said flange 23 serves to inclose the pinions 20 'and 21. It should be lnoted that while the axis of theadriving wheels is preferably in the same horizontal plane as the axis of the spindle 12, the diameter of the driving' wheels is greater than the diameter of the brush cylinder, consequent-1y lifting the brush cylinder slightly from the surface upon which the driving wheels bear; and holding the slot 1() slightly spaced from said surface as clearly-illustrated in Figs.'2 and 3. I t will be understood that the construction at both ends of the brush cylinder is the same, the description just given being applicableto both ends.

For thev purpose of permitting the sweeper to be lmoved over the floor, to turn corners and to be moved around in different directlons in a free and easy manner and with the least resistance, to prevent uneven'distribution of greater diameter where the two portions of the spindle abut as shown at 25 to act as a thread guard and prevent threads from being wound into the space between the two portions of the spindle.

The operation of the device is as follows: The motor being started and the air exhausted from the casing 1 through the collar 5 and receptacle 7, a strong inrush of air through the slot 10 will be produced. The operator, grasping the handle 6, should move the device backward and forward over the surface to be cleaned, thereby causing the driving wheels 2 to rotate, such rotation being transmitted through the pinio-ns -21 and 2O to the spindle 12. In turning a sharp curve with the device it will frequently be found that one driving wheel will be caused to rotate in one direction while the other driving wheel is rotated in the opposite direction. By reason of the spindle 12 being made in two independently rotatable parts, such opposite rotation of the driving wheels will take place without any unusual resistance whatever, the brush in the end of the brush cylinder moving forward rotating in one direction while the brush in that portion of the cylinder moving backward will be rotated in the other direction. If it is desired to utilize the pneumatic action of the device rather than the brushing the operator merely moves the device slowly over the sur.-

face, andit will be readil understood that l as occasion may require -t e brushing effect may be increased by more rapid movement of the device as when it is desired to loosen and lift from the surface threads and the like embedded or clingin to the Hoo-r covering, or when it is desire togdislodge other matter from the surface to be cleaned so as to enable the inrush of air to lift all of the sweepings and deposit them in the receptacle. Inv addition to thisuse of the brush it should be stated that it is advantageous'to employ the brush for the reason .that its light brushing action is beneficial in motor driven suction creating device with the brushing device mechanically driven by contact with the surface being cleaned when the `device is in motion thereover a most convenient, readily operated, controllable and eilicient device is produced. B requiring the motor to drive the air ex austing fan only, thedevice, including the motor,

can be made in af relatively small'size, of

a extendin light weight` and at less cost, while produc ing[ most satisfactory results.

claim 1. In a suction ca et sweeper of the character described, a ollaw brushkcylinder, end plates closing the ends of said cylinder and provided with spindle apertures, bearing portions connected to and outwardl spaced from said end (plates, a xed sha t through sai cylinder and apertures an connected at its ends to said bearing portions, a brush within said casing and provided with a spindle portion rotatably mounted upon said xed shaft, driving wheelsrotatablymounted on the outer side of said end plates and means between said 'bearing portloxis and said end plates-oper- [SEAL] ativel connecting said driving wheels" and spind e.I

2. In a suction carpet swee er of the character described, a brush cy inder, an end plate therefor provided wlth y an aperture axially disposed with reference to said cylinder, a brush spindle rotatably mounted in said cylinder and having its outer end extending through said aperture, said spindle provided with an annular flan e/in a lane with said end plate, and close y but reely rotatably fitting within. saidv aperture, said spindle also provided with an annular concave surface immediately on the inner side of said annular flange, and drivingv means on the outer side or sald end'plate, operatively connected to the ortion of said spindle projecting outwa Y ly from said plate and adapted to rotate said spindle.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES M. SPANGLER. Witnesses:

. IVlLLmM H. MILLER,

IRENE LUrz.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.`1,07v3,301, granted September 16, 1913, upon thev application of James M. Spangler, of CantomOhio, for an improvement in Suction Carpet-Sweepers, an error appears Iin the' printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 14, for the Word hollawtread hollow; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this 'correction therein that the same niayconform to the record of the casein the Patent Oihce.

signed and` selea'ahis 7th day of october, A. D., 1913.

R. T. FRAZIER, Acting] Umnmssioner of Patents.

a extendin 20 tures an 25 of said end convenient, readily operated, controllable and eilicient device is produced. B requir- 1ng the motor to drive the air ex austing fan only, thedevice, including the motor,

can be made in af relatively small'size, of light weight` and at less cost, while produc ing[ most satisfactory results.

claim y 1. In a suction ca et sweeper of the character described, a

ollaw brush cylinder,

end plates closing the ends of said cylinder and provided with spindle apertures, bearing portions connected to and outwardl spaced from said end (plates, a xed sha t through sai cylinder and aperconnected at its ends to said bearing portions, a brush within said casing and provided with a spindle portion rotatably mounted upon said xed shaft, driving wheelsrotatablymounted on the outer side plates and means between said 'bearing portloxis and said end plates-oper- [SEAL] ativel connecting said driving wheels and spind e.I

2. In a suction carpet swee er of the character described, a brush cy inder, an end plate therefor provided wlth y an aperture axially disposed with reference to said cylinder, a brush spindle rotatably mounted in said cylinder and having its outer end extending through said aperture, said spindle provided with an annular flan e/in a lane with said end plate, and close y but reely rotatably fitting within. saidv aperture, said spindle also provided with an annular concave surface immediately on the inner side of said annular flange, and drivingv means on the outer side or sald end'plate, operatively connected to the ortion of said spindle projecting outwa Y ly from said plate and adapted to rotate said spindle.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

' JAMES M. SPANGLER. Witnesses:

. IVlLLmM H. MILLER,

IRENE LUrz.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No.`1,07v3,301, granted September 16, 1913, upon thev application of James M. Spangler, of Canton,`0hio, for an improvement in Suction Carpet-Sweepers, an error appears Iin the' printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 14, for the Word hollawtread hollow; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this 'correction therein that the same niayconform to the record of the casein the Patent Oihce.

signed and` selea'ahis 7th day of october, A. D., 1913.

R. T. FRAZIER, Acting] Umnmssioner of Patents. 

